From such Actions as these, together with those mentioned before in relating the Symptoms, it is obvious enough to conclude, that Persons thus affected are in a proper Sence _Delirous_. Tho’ at the same time I do think that the _Hydrophobia_ it self (whatever is commonly believed) does not at all proceed from this _Delirium_, as will by and by appear.
I know indeed that the main and plausible _Objection_ against a _Delirium_ is this, that the Patient himself does Reason against his Timorousness, tho’ he cannot overcome it, forewarns the Standers-by of his Outrageous Fits, desires them to take care of themselves, and the like. Which from what I have already said concerning a _Delirium_, appears to be very consistent with it, nay, convinces that there is the greatest Degree of it in this Case; in as much as that it is not a Distemper of the Mind but of the Body. And to this purpose I remember to have seen my self an Instance of one in a Fever, who foretold some time before any signs of a _Delirium_ were discovered, how raving and unruly He should be, and made good his _Prognostick_ to that degree, that it was very hard Work to tame and master him; tho’, as he told me afterwards, he reason’d as much as he could against that groundless Jealousie of his Friends designing to Murder him, which put him upon his Mad Actions, but was not able to Conquer the prevailing _Species_ of Fear and Anger.
This _Delirium_ therefore, as _Cælius Aurelianus_ (77) says, _Proceeds intirely from an indisposition of the Body_, which is without all doubt owing to the alteration made in the Blood by the _Saliva_ of the _Mad Dog_, instill’d into the Wound inflicted by the Bite.
That we may rightly understand this, we must take Notice, that the _Rabies_ or Madness in a Dog is the effect of a Violent Fever; and therefore it is most common in excessive Hot Weather, tho’ sometimes intense Cold maybe the Cause of it; That no Dog in this Case ever sweats; from whence it follows, that when his Blood is in a Ferment, it cannot, as in other Creatures, discharge it self upon the surface of the Body, and therefore must of necessity throw out a great many _Saline_ and Active Particles upon those Parts, where there is the most constant and easie Secretion; and such, next to the _Miliary_ in the Skin in Us, are the _Salival_ Glands; for this reason much more Spittle is separated in a Dog when Mad, than at any other time, and that very frothy, or impregnated with Hot, Subtil Parts.